Philosophical questions—and sitting with their meaning—are a priority for me as I look toward 2026. Regardless of a philosopher’s religious or ethical beliefs differing from my own, I plan to engage with their ideas. To consider them, reflect on them, toy with them. Much like schooling or visiting different cultures, opening my mind to other ways of thinking and believing has always benefited me.
Right now, I’m with Søren Kierkegaard’s concept of The Sickness Unto Death, and his idea that despair signals we are a pendulum swing away from faith. We need faith.
Faith in what?
For Kierkegaard, it was God, the Christian one. And what about for me?
Faith, what does the word even mean? Its Hebrew roots connect to uman (craftsman, artisan) and imun (exercise, practice), pointing toward development through effort rather than certainty.
Faith, then, is a willingness to show up repeatedly, to remain present when you want to escape, explain, or fix. To stay with what is unfinished.
I’m sticking with this one for a while—this turning toward faith, toward presence, toward assuredness.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 